Incident Overview
Approximately at 1920 Central Daylight Time, a pilot entered a National Weather Service station in Norfolk, Nebraska, and requested a weather briefing for a flight from Bloomfield, Nebraska, back to Norfolk, intending to arrive before sunset. The pilot was advised of marginal weather conditions due to thunderstorm activity. The forecast indicated occasional ceilings of 600 feet with visibility of 1 mile in thunderstorms and fog.
The exact departure time from Bloomfield was not determined; however, Bloomfield is located approximately 50 miles (by road) from Norfolk.
Collision Details
At 2223 Central Daylight Time, the aircraft collided with power lines and poles near Neligh, Nebraska. An examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of a preimpact malfunction.
Witness Observations
Witnesses in the vicinity estimated a ceiling of approximately 500 feet and visibility of about 1 mile with rain and fog.
Investigation
The investigation focused on the weather conditions and the pilot's awareness of them. No other contributing factors were identified from the wreckage examination.